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Removing wa handles

Hey guys,

I'm thinking about refinishing my Mizuno and need to remove the handle to do so, and I had a question about it. I've seen Marko's instructions for this, and also one of maxim's video followed pretty much the same method. What I'm not sure of is how to tell the knife has been epoxied or not inside the tang. Marko said when this is the case you can't remove the handle without destroying it, which is obviously not something I want to do. Is there a way to tell if the handle has just been burned in vs. using epoxy as well? Or if it's been burned in is there no epoxy used, etc.? Anyone ever rehandle a Mizuno that knows if any epoxy was used or not?

Epoxy will soften if heated. According to System Three, their epoxy has a max service temp of 160º f., so a heat gun or heat lamp should soften it enough to remove the handle. It has a deflection modulus of 119º f., whatever that means!
If the handle comes off in pieces, well, that is another project, I guess!

Spike C
"The Buddha resides as comfortably in the circuits of a digital computer or the gears of a cycle transmission as he does at the top of a mountain."
Pirsig

270 Gyuto. Marko, when reinstalling the handle do you basically do something similar to maxim, kind of fill the tang hole up with bees wax and rub down the tang with it, then just tap it back on and let it set for a few hours?

Generally, Japanese makers seldom epoxy handles in. I have not come across a fully epoxied handle yet, even on Takeda, which has epoxy at the handle tip, but the tang hole is burned out.

To remove a handle, I use a wood mallet and a block of wood 4-6" longer than the blade (excluding handle). It takes me 4-5 strikes to remove a handle. I have done this countless times without a single failure. One day, I will get a camera and make a video of a process.

Joe - the trick is to place one end of the wood block against the handle and hit with a hammer hit the other end, while you holding a knife and a block in one hand and hammer in another. Put masking tape over the edge so you won't cut yourself and a rule of a thumb is to hold the blade with the edge away from your palm (I don't use masking tape). Hit hard and after 2-3 strikes you will start seeing movement in the handle.

Generally, Japanese makers seldom epoxy handles in. I have not come across a fully epoxied handle yet, even on Takeda, which has epoxy at the handle tip, but the tang hole is burned out.

To remove a handle, I use a wood mallet and a block of wood 4-6" longer than the blade (excluding handle). It takes me 4-5 strikes to remove a handle. I have done this countless times without a single failure. One day, I will get a camera and make a video of a process.

Joe - the trick is to place one end of the wood block against the handle and hit with a hammer hit the other end, while you holding a knife and a block in one hand and hammer in another. Put masking tape over the edge so you won't cut yourself and a rule of a thumb is to hold the blade with the edge away from your palm (I don't use masking tape). Hit hard and after 2-3 strikes you will start seeing movement in the handle.

M

I could be imagining this, but I'm almost certain that I saw some kind of video of this process recently. And it wasn't Maxim's video, I don't think...